A daily roundup of headlines made by the candidates, running mates and their surrogates on the campaign trail.
September 1
- People’s love and protection for Ibu in Kolamaafushi (Mihaaru)
- With strong message from Kolamaafushi, the whole island boils over! (Raajje)
- Ibu in Kolamaafushi with warm welcome: no disturbance (Avas)
- I’m ready even if I have to go to jail with the Maldivian people: Ibu (Vnews)
- Ibu calls for the release of 18 people arrested from Kolmaafushi (VFP)
- Front row of Kolamaafushi rally reserved for detainees (Mihaaru)
- Praise for the “Kolamaafushi 18” (Avas)
- “We will reform the unconstitutional changes brought to laws” (VFP)
- Ibu’s warning to President Yameen: obey the law if you want to remain! (Raajje)
- President Yameen can’t intimidate the people anymore: Ibu (Mihaaru)
- President Yameen will have to come within legal bounds after September 23: Ibu (Raajje)
- Gaaf Alif atoll council vice president to MDP with Gemanafushi youth (Raajje)
- The most excitement when Ibu came was from Gadhdhoo (Mihaaru)
- We will face election after assuring that the voter’s list is valid: Ibu (Vnews)
- No doubt, President Yameen will lose: Ibu (Mihaaru)
- President Yameen will lose, that’s how the picture looks: Ibu (Avas)
- We will complete Maavarulu airport: Ibu (Raajje)
- Running mate Faisal Naseem travels to India (Vnews)
- Joint opposition’s top priority will be establishing justice: Faisal (Raajje)
- Sheikh Ilyas’s message: everyone stand up against tyranny (VFP)
- Sheikh Ilyas calls to move beyond fear and stand up against tyranny (Vnews)
- Ibu to President Yameen: behind talk of development is corruption and theft! (Mihaaru)
In defiance of an appeal by the police to postpone his trip, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ‘Ibu’ went to Kolamaafushi island, an opposition stronghold in the south where 18 activists were arrested over alleged vandalism of the ruling party office. The opposition candidate’s speedboat was surrounded and escorted into the harbour by seven boats decked out in the colours of the Maldivian Democratic Party and Jumhooree Party.
Several police officers were on patrol but no disturbances occurred as Ibu greeted supporters and spoke at a rally. Front row seats were kept empty with photos of the 18 detainees.
On Gemanafushi, citing the strong show of support on each island stop, he expressed confidence of easily winning the September 23 election and warned President Abdulla Yameen to stay within the law if he wants to remain in office until the end of his term on November 17.
- Completion of Kurendhoo shore protection marked (PSM)
- I feel sad for Ibu’s state, he’s using a part of Nasheed’s manifesto: president (Mihaaru)
- I feel sad for Ibu’s state, he can’t show manifesto: president (Avas)
- Former president’s didn’t go to bridge opening because they’re ashamed to join in development: president (Sun)
- The ideology that works against national and religious ideology is still MDP’s: President Yameen (PSM)
- MDP meeting hall closed and flags removed because of president’s visit (Mihaaru)
- President Yameen has brought development disproportionate to 40 years: Saeed (Avas)
- Dr Shaheem to Haa Dhaal atoll, first destination is Hanimaadhoo (PSM)
- Voting for a change has come to an end: Shaheem (Mihaaru)
- Shaheem in Haa Dhaal: bequeath government to a new generation (Avas)
- Government should be bequeathed to new generation with President Yameen: Shaheem (Sun)
- President Yameen is the architect who brought joy of the bridge: Dr Shainee (PSM)
Concluding his tour of the north-central Lhaviyani atoll, President Yameen told supporters on Kurendhoo island that he felt pity towards his opponent. The joint opposition candidate has yet to release his manifesto, which is to be an updated or revised MDP manifesto that incorporates the separate manifestos of its three coalition partners.
Ibu was left with “bits and pieces” of former president Mohamed Nasheed’s manifesto. This is because he did not expect to be named an alternative candidate to the exiled opposition leader, Yameen suggested. “MDP did not expect there could be an election in the Maldives that president Nasheed could not contest,” he said.
The ruling party manifesto has yet to be released. A major rally has been planned for September 7 to announce core pledges.
The opposition’s lobbying and alleged boycott calls were responsible for challenges facing the tourism and fisheries industries, Yameen contended. The Maldives was facing difficulties in exporting fish to the European Union, he said.
If re-elected, he pledged to deliver more “mega-projects” such as the newly-opened Sinamalé bridge.
